UK backs Trump's missile assault against Syria

(AhlulBayt News Agency) - Britain has backed US missile strikes on a Syrian air base while Russia warned the act of "aggression" will damage its relations with America.

The UK Government has offered its full support to US president Donald Trump's targeted assault on the base.

The surprise barrage of 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles - which were launched from US ships in the Mediterranean and struck the Shayrat air base in central Syria in the early hours of Friday - was the first direct US attack on the Syrian government.

The Russian military, which had a presence at the air base, was informed by the Pentagon about the air strikes before the missiles struck. But the Kremlin warned the strikes, which it called a "violation of international law", do "significant damage" to Russian ties with the US.

Trump was reacting to the attack on Tuesday that killed at least 72 people, including 20 children, which he said was launched by Syrian president Assad. The Syrian government has strongly denied responsibility for that attack.

On Friday morning, a No 10 spokeswoman said: "Overnight, the US has taken military action against the Syrian regime, targeting the airfield in Shayrut.

US Tomahawk missiles targeted airstrips, hangars, control towers and ammunition areas in Sharyat.

Syrian state TV reported missile attacks on a number of military targets, calling them an act of "aggression" which had led to "losses". The Governor of Homs said that five people were killed and seven wounded.

Major Jamil al-Saleh, a Syrian opposition commander welcomed the US attack.